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European Parliament backs stronger privacy safeguards for EU citizens following NSA scandal

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Claude-MoraesThe European Parliament on 12 February backed a report calling for the EU to adopt new rules on data protection and negotiate with the US to ensure stronger safeguards for its citizens in the wake of the NSA surveillance scandal.

The inquiry, led by Labour MEP Claude Moraes, also calls for the suspension of the Swift and Safe Harbour Agreement on the transfer of bank and consumer data, and for the reinforcement of protections for journalists and whistle-blowers.

Following six months of hearings - including a delegation to Washington - the European Parliament Committee on Civil liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE Committee), today backed the final report, with 33 MEPs in favour, seven against and 17 abstentions.

Claude Moraes MEP, rapporteur for the European Parliament Report on Electronic Mass Surveillance of EU citizens (pictured), said: "After a successful vote, we managed to get a comprehensive and in-depth action plan for the next mandate of this Parliament to continue our work following the Snowden revelations.

"We have now called on the US to end blanket mass surveillance and provide EU citizens with judicial redress for when their personal data is transferred to the US to ensure stronger safeguards for its citizens, and we have called for a clear line to be drawn between data that is useful for citizens’ security purposes and those which are not."

MEPs also agreed to warn the European Council they are set to reject any free-trade agreement with the US if it includes any provisions for exemptions from the EU new rules on data protection.

Moraes added: "Protecting European citizens' privacy is a key issue for us. Our future priority will now be to develop enhanced democratic oversight, including parliamentary oversight, of intelligence services, considering that security shall never be used as an excuse for breaching people's rights to privacy."

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The Report will now be voted on by all MEPs at the next Plenary session.

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